Losing hair due to stress is not uncommon. Stress related hair loss is most often the result of chronic periods of emotional difficulty that trigger an autoimmune response causing inflammation in the body. Lockdown and the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 have certainly triggered this stress-induced immune response in lots of us.

The technical term for hair loss is alopecia. Alopecia can affect men or women and can strike at any age. If you’ve suffered from hair loss once, the likelihood that you will experience it again is markedly increased. Prevention is therefore necessary to keep hair loss at bay.

The good news is, if hair loss is stress related, the hair follicles themselves are not permanently damaged and when hair loss is triggered by stress, it usually grows back over time. The rate at which your hair regrows depends on genetic factors, and also on your ability to manage stress and to hack your lifestyle to reduce inflammation in the body. Following an anti-inflammatory diet and taking the right supplements can help your hair to grow back faster and prevent hair loss in the future.

Read on to discover how you can reduce stress-related hair loss and encourage your hair to grow back:

1. Hack your diet

Vitamins D3, C, B and E, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, biotin, selenium, iron and zinc make up the essential building blocks of long, luscious locks. In addition, upping your intake of anti-inflammatory foods can help to mitigate stress and the toll stress takes on the health of your hair.

Include more of these foods in your diet to prevent hair loss:

• Eggs - eggs are a great source of both high-quality protein and biotin, both of which keep your hair strong and resistant to breakage

• Brazil nuts - just one brazil nut contains your entire recommended daily intake of selenium. Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential for the regulation of the thyroid hormones that promote healthy hair

• Oily fish - salmon, anchovies, sardines and mackerel are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids which are heavily implicated in healthy hair growth. Oily fish are also a great source of protein, and contain a certain amount of selenium and vitamin D3 too.

• Leafy greens - leafy greens, and in particular spinach, contain a whole host of vitamins and minerals fundamental to hair growth, including iron, folate, vitamin A and vitamin C. A deficiency in any one of these nutrients may contribute to hair loss

• Sweet potatoes - sweet potatoes are a delicious source of beta-carotene which the body converts into vitamin A. Vitamin A is linked to good hair health and, what’s more, it helps to speed up the rate of hair regrowth at the same time as protecting and preventing the regression of other hair follicles

2. Avoid these common mistake

Many of us are guilty of making some surprisingly common hair mistakes; mistakes that could be compounding the problem of hair loss and leaving your hair weak, brittle and susceptible to falling out. If you’re prone to any of the following behaviours, changing your habits could be the key to unlocking gorgeous, glowing locks:

• Washing your hair too frequently - washing your hair every day can strip your hair of its natural oils, meaning that your hair is no longer protected against the environment. Secondary oils are produced by your scalp to make up for the loss. These secondary oils not only make your hair look greasy but they enlarge the follicles too making it easier for hair to fall out. When first increasing the time between washes, your hair may appear dirty quickly but your scalp will soon adapt to your new schedule and, as time goes on, your hair won’t require washing nearly so frequently.

• Brushing your hair too much or too vigorously - over-brushing and brushing your hair too vigorously can wreak havoc on the health of your hair. Repeatedly tugging at your hair can encourage excess oil production, split ends and hair loss. This can leave your hair feeling lacklustre and looking thin. Use a wide-toothed comb or your fingers and always brush from the bottom up to minimise damage.

• Showering in very hot water - hot water can ruin your hair. You’ve seen those hair strands in the plughole after having a shower, right? Well, hot water aggressively stimulates and opens up the hair follicles, making it easier for your hair to fall out. Very hot water can also destroy your hair’s natural oils and keratin, stripping your hair of its protective layer and leaving it lacking shine, and looking flat and dull.

3. Supplement with LYMA

LYMA contains two potent ingredients that have been specifically formulated to boost the health of your hair so that you can re-find your balance, knowing that you look and feel your best:

• Cynatine® HNS

Keratin has already been mentioned as being an important building block in the quest for long and strong hair. Keratin is an amino acid and is responsible for maintaining the integrity of your hair from follicle to tip. Keratin is fundamentally important to both hair growth and structure.

Cynatine® HNS is a superior, highly bioavailable, active strain of keratin. The unique advantage of Cynatine® HNS is that it is the world’s first solubilised keratin, allowing for enhanced absorption and thus superior resilience and shine when it comes to your hair.

In a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial into the hair-health benefits of Cynatine® HNS, 65% of people reported faster growth, thicker-looking and more glossy hair, and improved hair structure.

• Lycored Lycopene™

Without collagen, the body cannot manufacture keratin, which is why LYMA also contains Lycored Lycopene™. Lycored Lycopene™ encourages the body’s natural production of collagen, and crucially inhibits collagenases - the enzymatic breakdown of the body’s collagen that occurs naturally as you age.

Chronic stress can impede your body's innate ability to fend off hair-destroying environmental toxins, and Lycored Lycopene™ can help you to rebuild your defences. Lycored Lycopene™ is a powerful antioxidant with free-radical fighting and health-restoring potential for your entire body. The benefits associated with Lycored Lycopene™ are in no way limited to hair.

Unlike collagen, the body is unable to manufacture lycopene itself so taking a supplement is vital if you want to restore your hair to its former glory. Lycored Lycopene™ as formulated at 30mg in LYMA is a powerful, technology-enhanced natural carotenoid, and is the most potent strain of lycopene available.

The LYMA formula gets straight to the heart of the underlying stress that causes hair loss. LYMA contains natural mood booster affron® as well as stress-busting adaptogenic KSM-66 Ashwagandha®.

Six independent, peer-reviewed studies have concluded that affron® has a natural antidepressant effect. It has been suggested that saffron extract may be just as effective as prescription antidepressant medications when it comes to treating acute stress.

Likewise, ashwagandha has been used in ayurvedic medicine for three millennia to help relieve stress, anxiety and depression. KSM-66 Ashwagandha® is a full spectrum, root extracted form of the herb in its most bioavailable form and it has been formulated in LYMA at a clinically-backed daily dose of 600mg. KSM-66 Ashwagandha® works by blocking the neural pathways in the brain responsible for emitting stress signals.

LYMA’s formula can help you to manage stress and its associated symptoms. If you’re worried about stress-related hair loss, discover LYMA. Designed to help you feel your best, realise your potential, restore your balance and unlock your inner confidence. LYMA is here to give you back your power.